Suite Crude

Space Age Gutbucket Afrodelic Jazzploitation

Suite Crude is a new alias of Daniel Zelonky whose previous projects include Low Res and Crank. Several collaborators appear on Space Age Gutbucket Afrodelic Jazzploitation but Zelonky seems to be essentially a solo virtual ensemble. Ignorance of the evolution of the digital creation process means I’m not sure if his methodology is groundbreaking, run-of-the-mill, painstaking, or a cinch. The audacious title suggests a primal, freeform, astral excursion that is impossible to match. “Crude Pursuit” has a promising thumping into and 1970s TV Detective feel that brings to mind Jim Rockford arm-wrestling Shaft. “Chalky’s Back With Knife” has a spacious exoticism, with horn/percussion interplay, wah-wah guitar, piano and xylophone. Better still is the effortlessly intense “Intergalactic Research” lovingly adapted from an unreleased Sun Ra composition. Unfortunately, sometimes the spirit doesn’t move. The interminable thud of “Brazen Tango”, for example, is about as graceful as a sweaty grope with post-career Diego Maradona. While Space Age Gutbucket Afrodelic Jazzploitaion might have been trashier, more fun and cinematic, nevertheless (on the plus side) it could conceivably piss off both Wynton Marsalis and John Zorn.